The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1887-01-15
The Two Pledges.

The independent followers of Dir.
George w. Curtis in the Cleveland
campaign of 1884, have seen much
to trouble them since in " hat
they call Mr. CleveIand's "yIoIa-
tons of his pledges" Nothing was 80
sweet to them during the struggle as Ir.
Clevelands pledges" Nothing Is 50
bitter to them now as Dir. Cieyelaud's
numerous alleged violations of these
pledges; and the last case of prospective
violation is in the matter OF the Engle-
wood Post-Ctfice, where iL looks a.
though the excellent Republican Post
master would at last be superseded by
Democrat in spite of the anxious protests
of some Englewood reformers.
This threatened change is pronounced
Inconsistent with Dir. Cleveland's
pledges"
Let us try to get at the bottom of Mr..
Cleveland's pledges given before his cleo
ton, and see what they are W rth as pO-
litical influences.
First of all, Mr.. Cleveland solcmnly
made one supreme pledge to the Demo
cracy that he would enforce the policy
of the Democratic party" In that the
principle of non-partisan appointments,
outside of the offices covered by the Civil
Service Law, has no standing whatever.
This W as the first, the great pledge, ute
only one necessary, in fact the only IRE
fragible pledge he made.
Then a lot of bolting Republicans
wrote to Mr.. Cleveland about his cIvIl
service views. and he gave them in reply
what they call a pledge, and what has
since been the subject of SO many alleged
violations. This was to the effect that,
civil service law or no civil service Law,
he would not remove non-politicaI Cth
GERS except for cause.
The idea was square in the face of the
established Democratic principle, and il
was totally foreign TO the purpose OF the
Democratic party, whose policy he had
previously agreed to enforce. When Mr..
Cleveland wrote his civil service pledge
he believed in it, doubtless, and liked It,
and would have preferred 10 carry IL our
but now, upon a closer study of DemCC
racy than he had made at the time, he
finds that the two principles conflict. 50
that both can not be sustained, at least IN
the same instance.
One cause of dissatisfaction, mystitica-
ton and uncertainty Is that Mr.. Cleve-
land Is sometimes whimsical in applying
the two principles. lie uses one or the
other as he happens to think best, aId
when he stands 10y the pledge he made 10
the Democrats, the Musswumps kick, just
as the Democrats are angry when he
filings sOps to the NIugwumps.
But between the weight Of these two
pledges there Is no comparison. One lie
gave to tie Democracy in return for the
highest honor that man can have, and Ia
the most solemn and formal proCet ding
The other he gave III a casual way To a
few irresponsible political exiIes from
the Republican convention that Ina nom
mated Blaine. W hen placed by the side
of Democratic traditions, tins latter
pledge Is OF no more Importance than II
Mr.. Cleveland had agreed with a lot ol
cranks that he would dye his hair or
shave his mustache. That would be well
enough If il didn't interfere with the pe =
Torrance of his duties as Democratic
President, but, If it did interfere. then he
would have to leave those admirers t.
endure their disappointment. IL would
have been better if Mr. Cleveland had
not gone wandering off among mss own
fancies when he was OveTshadOWed with
the responsibility belonging To the lead
eyslip of an historic organic ton OF
known ideas and sentiments. But tbal
can't be helped now, and at any rate the
Democracy justly resent Opposition t.
one of their most vital principles.
We are sorry for the old Republican
postmaster at EuglewOod, but he will
have 10 gO.-NeGr l'O4i. Sun.